Colin Finnie · 1 July 2002

Amitc is right when he points out that this poem is written in commonplace language. It is a testament to Yeats’ skill that he weaves such words into a cloth of many colours. I take issue with Amitc on whether it matters that Yeats’ rhymes are prosaic. The poem is incantatory, as are so many of WB’s verses. The repetition was thus probably wholly intentional.

Coxhill Paul P · 26 February 2003

EOM

Jennifer Mc Lean · 16 April 2003

i am a fifth year student from donegal studying for my leaving certificate and i think this poem was amazingly beautiful

Skarabeusz · 13 May 2003

First of all - please excuse me my poor English, but it’s not my spoken language. I’m Polish, but poetry (not only Polish - but as well English) is love of my life - that’s why sooner or later I had to find “Aedh wishes”… What can I say more than you’ve said before me? The last verse of this poem… is… one of the greatest moments in my own private history of poetry… I do not feel that it is about love (at least not only about love); it is about something more general, maybe human condition in a world devoid of imaginings…

PS
There is a little mistake in the title - should be “Aedh wishes…” not “His…” - means the same, but…

Fulvia Centro · 9 June 2003

I am Italian and I met this poem in a movie ‘84 Charing Cross Road’. I heard the Italian version and I liked it very much, but I didn’t know which was the poet. Now I am happy to know the original poem.

Fulvia

Maan Kamaljit · 12 June 2003

I’m not a poetry person, or thought I wasn’t, but nothing’s moved as much as this poem. That was until I recited the poem to my girlfriend, her reply was just as poignant:

” I would never tread on your dreams, I will put them with mine.”

Kind Regards

Kam Maan

Kanga House · 13 June 2003

How romantic is this!!A guy in my English class really,really liked this girl also in his class but both were soooooooo shy and would never do anything about it.Anyway,one day in class he stood up and read out this poem-the last 2 lines he looked up and said to this girl!!! Well now they are married!!!
I think this sums up this poem-I so wish someone would read it to me!!!

CARLO BRUSATERRA · 12 February 2004

Io vorrei che poteste leggerlo in italiano, come è capitato a me.

Alana Brittain · 15 February 2004

Carlo Brusaterra, would like someone to write the poem in italian, ‘sono capitato Carlo ma non so scrivere ‘He wishes for the cloths in heaven’ in italiano, mi dispiace.

Bjsm2000 · 28 March 2004

I heard these beautiful words in “84 Charing Cross Road” and had to find the source. I did, on your site. I always wanted someone to feel that way about me and recite this to me… No words can do the feeling justice - it is just the way it is!
Barbara

Karen · 12 August 2004

No other poem speaks to me like this one does – I first encountered it in the charming film ’84 Charing Cross Road’, a film I love, and immediately went out to find a ‘good clean secondhand copy’ of Yeats ala Helene Hanff.

Karen, Australia

Jessica Schnell · 18 August 2004

I really liked this poem, and first heard it in the movie “Equilibrium.” Later I thought it so beautiful I had to look up the rest of it. Thanks to the poster of this gem!

Win Bissell · 21 August 2004

In Drumcliff, Co. Sligo, Ireland, in the churchyard where Yeats is buried, is a life-sized sculpture of a man crouched over a bronze cloth, set in a marble base. Inscribed in the marble and bronze is this poem. To read it, I had to step onto the sculpture itself. It is a spectacular and moving piece of art, and my first introduction to this poet.

Scotlynne47 · 22 August 2004

This poem is the most beautiful I’ve ever read. I’ve jsut sent it to my husband who is serving overseas to let him know my feelings. It has touched me deeply.

Lynne
Florida, USA

Seamus Quigley · 14 September 2004

I first heard this poem on the film Equilibrium and immediately it spoke to me in a way that not many poems or song ever have. It seemed to some up presisely what I felt. it was a very profound moment.

NaomiCFox · 18 October 2004

I read this poem to my new husband at my wedding, having heard it recited on the radio a couple of months earlier and been moved to tears.

I read it again, with my dreams ripped and soiled by muddy footprints, and I am moved to tears once more.

This is possibly the most beautiful, simple, and meaningful verses I have ever had the good fortune to hear. It was poignant at my wedding for I knew the risks I was taking. It is more so now as I sit with my needle and thread trying to mend my dreams and still longing for the love I still hold for my husband.

Phil Bowles · 4 December 2004

Im sorry, but “enwrought” is NOT common language! I have never used it or heard it used in my life, and im known as a wordsmith! Don’t get me wrong, this is my favourite poem of all time….I have used it many many times. But im amazed at how anyone can think the word “commonplace” in the same PARAGRAPH as this masterpiece, let alone the same breath!

Tyra · 27 January 2005

I adore this poem. Like Many others I heard it first in the movie 84 Charing Cross Road. I read early in this sight that someone had an italian version of the poem. God, what I wouldn’t do to see it written in “Italiano” If you have a version would you lay it on us! Peace, Ty

Brian Kiser · 19 March 2005

I haven’t read a lot of poetry, but this poem is quoted in the sci-fi movie Equilibrium (which I love), and I became curious to hear all of this beautiful poem. I’m glad I looked it up.

Julia Butters · 1 May 2005

This is one of the most beautiful poems I have ever heard. I too, heard it in the movie “84 Charing Cross Road”. It richly describes how life should be for all of us. Now, I feel moved to read more of this poetry! Julie

Wannaseearainbow · 7 May 2005

Hello,

I am watching the movie 84 Charing Cross Road and while I am watching and listening, did a search and found this thread with the actual poem here.

Funny how many others have done a similar search because of this wonderful movie.()

Laura

McKay Bartholomew A A1C 12 MDSS/SGSAR · 27 September 2005

I looked up this poem because, like most of us who have written here, I saw the movie Equilibrium (which by the way is the greatest movie ever partly because of this poem). I know this has been said time and time again but this is the greatest poem EVER. I didn’t go to Yale or Princeton so I cant tell you the syntax and devices Yeats used to form this masterpeice but i can say that it has alot more meaning that just love. Not saying anything against love but that just seems like the easy way out of finding the ture meaning to this poem. It can be taken in many different ways. The first and most obvious is love (duh), but because of some of my experiences I believe that he is talking to this God through this verse. He wants to be able to lay the greatest of cloths made of the most untouchable of resources to worship or just show his appreciation and love for god, but can only lay forword his dreams because that’s the only thing he has. One thing I have found out over the few years that I have been looking at poetry is that the Poet, in this case WB Yeats, may have a meaning and an agenda of their own when they write a poem but it only matters what it means you. And as for common language, I dont agree with that comment, just because he doesn’t use big words doesn’t mean it common language. Small words make big sentences especially when put together so craftfully.

Bartholomew M. USAF

Keith McCabe · 15 January 2006

He is repenting, the poem is an act of contrition, ‘We look through a dark glass blindly’, to see the error in ourselves, the evil that lurks within. The answer is in the title, he wishes for the cloths of Heaven, to cloth himself in righteousness, of light, the love reference is the love of the Almighty in repentance. To dip our vesture in the blood of the lamb . . The vesture of heaven, to end living in darkness and to live in the light, to be born again in spirit. Sadly, in the modern decadent age, so many dreams are destroyed my the hidden evil disguised as the lamb (internally and externally), and not giving love a chance, people must change before nations can.

Roman Paszkowski · 21 April 2006

Ciao Fulvia

You mentioned on the board that you first heard the poem in Italian first. There is a post from another Italian person on the board who wrote “Io vorrei che poteste leggerlo in italiano, come è capitato a me.” Would it be possible for you to find the Italian version of the poem and post it on the board. I myself would be interested in seeing it in Italian as I’m sure would many others.

Regards
Roman

EdB · 25 April 2006

I was touched by what Tina wrote.
I too remember this beautiful poem by Yeats
from when I was 14 years old. It has stayed with me ever since and a special moment caused me to search for it. Yes, many years have passed since then, but the warmth of Yeats has not waned. When thoughts of Love possess my mind I think of this passionate poem. Ed.

Harry Teuchert · 16 May 2006

I believe that only Yeats can touch the soul with this verse so simple and yet so profound. A thousand meanings and interpretations would not do justice to what he really had in mind. Being a poet myself, I know that often when engaged in writing verse we find a different meaning than the one with which we began.

Perhaps he speaks of his “being poor” to illustrate his inadequacy to declare his love verbally and therefore expresses this humility in his love as in a dream state. His dreams relate his desire to be accepted as he is unconditionally.

FoxwellT

Janet Wales · 25 July 2006

this poem was sung at my wedding in 1955, it is beautiful. Janet

Iaincairns01 · 13 August 2006

Just beautiful.

Laura Bond · 31 August 2006

I too was exposed to the poem partly through the movie “84 Charing Cross Road”. However, if you check it I believe you will find that the poem was originally penned by John Donne, though I have seen many books that attribute it to Yeats. It’s sad that the true author is not recognized! (Not to diminish Yeats’ work, which I also love.)

Laura

lyndagooding · 3 September 2006

Sorry I forgot, please read The Sally Gardens. We sang this at school when I was about seven or eight years old, and the first time I heard it, it made me cry. Our music teacher claimed it as an ‘English’ folk song. However, my Irish mother was outraged and told me “Indeed it isn’t, it is by the most wonderful “Irish” poet, W B Yeats!”

lyndagooding · 3 September 2006

Who but and Irishman could speak so sweetly xxx I love you WB xxx

Stadtpark · 7 October 2006

To answer some previous speculation about the motivations for this poem, it is quite well known that Yeats wrote this poem for Maud Gonne, with whom he was infatuated and who was a type of muse for much of his poetry. Unfortunately for him, his love was unrequited.

Tony Kinder · 15 October 2006

Fulvia

Found your blog on Yeats poem.

Do you know where can I find it translated into Italian.

Pleasant greetings from sunny Scotland.

Tony

Valerie Cooper · 17 October 2006

Perhaps someone can help me. I first read this poem in a book during elementary school (sometime between 1985 and 1990) and loved it so much I copied it down. I have carried that copy of the poem (I didn’t even know the title or author) since then. Lately I have been thinking about it and I have had no luck trying to discover from which book I copied it. The story (as best I remember it) was about two young lovers who were separated. The boy sent the girl the first four lines of the poem as some kind of message or code. She sent back the last four lines. Does anyone recognize this? Thanks.

Kate.Owen · 12 November 2006

Keith my friend - If I were you I’d quit sleeping next to the cleaning solvents - and remember to wear a lead hat next time you’re standing under the powerlines

Kate

ATIMEAGO · 3 March 2007

I did some research on the writer after watching a DVD series of the BBC program Ballykissangel - Series 3. This poem appeared on the 3rd disc of the set, during a very moving scene involving a young priest who was struggling with the accidental death of a young woman that he finally admitted that he loved. He had decided to leave the priest-hood and marry the young woman, but……. she died by electrocution before that could take place. There was a wake held at the end of the last program, and one of the towns-people recited this beautiful poem in an attempt to explain his loss of a friend and the impact she had on his life. This portrayal of love and loss was unexpected within the framework of this series. I was pleasantly surprised and very moved by the way this incident played-out. It was wonderfully done and was a truly fine vehicle that incorporated this work by W.B. Yeats.

Henry Zhang · 21 February 2008

I disagree that the poem carries an air of contrition. There is a subordinate air of regret, yes - a sort of apology from the speaker to his guest about his poverty, but the speaker never mentions repenting or atonement, and his speech quickly changes to a command: “tread softly”. Yeats is bashful almost; we see that his is an entreaty similar to, say, Kurt Vonnegut’s, when the late author said this: “God dammit, babies, you’ve got to be kind.”

Phil, I disagree that the poem doesn’t use common language. You have spoken of the eloquence of language, and the eloquence that language distills, but you seem to assert that both are the same. I disagree. It is possible to achieve the sublime with ordinary - as someone said earlier, incantatory - words. Besides the word you take issue with - “enwrought” - I think you might use the words Yeats uses here in your everyday life.